Plateau Magazine June-July 2023

art seen
The decades of studying and painting
horses deepened her connection to all creatures,
and she now paints a variety of animals,
often interacting with one another.
“At the heart of my animal paintings is the
observation that all sentient species possess
basic emotional similarities such as
maternal love and commitment, exuberant
expressions of their own energy, enjoyment
of comfort and trustworthy touch, and,
conversely, fear and a potential for great
suffering.” With this observation came the
responsibility she feels toward all animals,
domestic and wild, which “for better or
worse, live their lives at our discretion.”
Although beautiful, Mase’s work is
neither sweet nor sentimental. It hides
nothing. For example, in With a Crow, the
crow sitting on the horse’s back is far from
beautiful or endearing, but it emanates an
intelligence as if it knows something we do
not. It makes us lean in and feel—no small
thing in a world dulled by pain, loss and
polarization. There is a universality to it,
a truth: we are all connected, humans and
animals alike, and it is our responsibility
to take care of each other.
Even as her animal paintings evolved,
her process has remained consistent. She
is drawn “to the physicality of paint itself—the
way it plays on the surface of the
substrate, the way it interacts and defines
itself.” To start, she covers the entire canvas
with red oxide, which adds warmth and
dimension to the paint colors. “I love how
bits of red will pop through and give the
painting depth. I use primarily big brushes
and sponges but also pencil to break up the
canvas and pull it away from pure realism.
I have such fun with that.”
Mase’s enthusiasm for art has never
waned, but her desire to travel eventually
morphed into a desire to settle, and she
planted roots right here on the plateau. For
the last 32 years, Mase has been a resident
of Scaly Mountain. She knew nothing of
western North Carolina before she moved
here, but it was love at first sight. Her
husband had come to the plateau to help a
friend, and his enthusiasm for the area intrigued
her. She decided to see for herself,
a decision that changed her life. “Coming
up the switchbacks from Dillard, I felt like
I was coming home. I knew I had found my
place.” How lucky we are to have her. P
Mase’s art is on exhibit at Ann Lea Fine Art
Gallery in Cashiers. To learn more, visit
www.maselucas.com.
Brethren,
36 x 36 Acrylic and
Pencil on Canvas
With a Crow,
36 x 36 Acrylic and
Pencil on Canvas
52 | ThePlateauMag.com